Helpful Information
Resources

Welcome to the Friend Box Resource Center! Here, you will find a wealth of information that will help enhance your understanding of our packaging products, our ordering process, and much more. Explore the information listed below to learn more about our company and our products, and feel free to contact us if your question isn’t answered on this page.

Box Styles& Options

Friend Box is proud to offer a full range of standard and specialty boxes, cases, and much more. In this section, you will find visual depictions of some of our most popular boxes.

Custom Ordering Process

When ordering a custom product from Friend Box, the process begins with the customer inquiry. We formulate the product’s specifications with the customer and then provide a price quote. After the project is quoted, the process is dependent on whether or not graphics are involved.

No Graphics

Sample, if required (fee may be applicable)

Sample approval

Purchase order

Credit application

Production

Graphics

Purchase order

Credit application

Graphic layout

Art submitted

Art proof

Sample (fee may be applicable)

Sample approval

Production

All project lead times will vary based on a variety of factors. Our average lead time is between three and four weeks. Our team is pleased to do everything possible to accommodate your schedule, when possible

Frequently Asked Questions

If you already have a rigid box that you want us to recreate, we will need the inside dimensions of the base (length, width, and depth) and the depth of the cover you have, if any.

If you are starting from scratch and need custom packaging, we need the overall dimensions of the item(s) you are going to package, and we, with your input, will design a package that gives you the performance and appearance you desire.

Take into consideration the weight and fragility of your product and whether or not you will be using an interior insert or protective packaging inside the box. The most common caliper (thickness) of board is .040 point. If you have a heavy-weight product, .060 or .080 point board would be a better choice. If you are unsure, we can make a recommendation and furnish samples of different board thicknesses we have available.

Friend Box uses many different materials for box wrap, some of which are text-weight papers, cloth, and imitation leather and suede. The materials can not have any coating on the back of the sheet, so that it will adhere properly and smoothly to the chipboard. We will provide you with the sheet sizes and quantity needed. If we are unfamiliar with the material you would like to use, we will require a small amount for a test run. If a printed wrap has film lamination on it, we require nylon lay-flat film lam.

The files should be in Adobe Illustrator (.ai) or PDF (.pdf) format, and to your desired size. Files for stamping dies must be in black outline, not in color. Multicolor stamping dies must have an art file for each separate color. Friend Box can supply a template on which you or your artist can place your art, if needed.

House Account: To open an account, you must fill out a credit application and provide us with 3 credit references and one bank reference along with a copy of your tax exempt certificate, if applicable. Friend Box Company terms are 1% 10, net 30.

COD & Checks in Advance: Contact a sales representative for shipping and freight charges, item cost, and sales tax, if applicable, at 1-978-774-0240.

Industry Standards on Orders: On all orders, we reserve the right to ship and bill in excess of 10% over or under quantity ordered.

The basic structural material from which the package is constructed. It is primarily comprised of recycled fibers and can be specified in a wide array of calipers, finishes, and several standard dyed colors.

Protective finishes applied to paper. Some paper is manufactured at the mill already coated on one or both sides, providing a smooth, finished appearance. There are additional coatings which can be applied over printed sheets to provide further protection of the surface. They are:

Film lamination is a separate sheet of material, usually nylon, polyester, or acrylic, applied to the sheet. This coating provides the best protection for the printing, is available in a variety of finishes, is extremely durable, and is applied to the entire sheet.

UV (ultraviolet) coating is applied to the sheet in liquid form and cured under UV light. It shares many of the appearance attributes of film lamination but is not as durable. It is also available in a variety of finishes and can be applied to specific areas of the sheet, referred to as “spot UV.”

Aqueous coating is a water-based coating, applied to the sheet in liquid, form that provides a very smooth finish and good protection for the printing. It is available in a variety of finishes and is applied to the entire sheet.

Varnish is a petroleum-based coating applied to the sheet in liquid form that provides a smooth finish and generally adequate protection for the printing. It is available in a variety of finishes and can be applied to specific areas of the sheet, referred to as “spot varnish.”

We will assist you in selecting and specifying the best paper(s) and/or coating to achieve your desired appearance as well as protection for your packaging.

Raising the surface, or a portion of the surface, of paper. Embossing can be applied to the entire sheet in a variety of patterns. For example, in simulated textile, leather, and wood grain patterns. Embossing can also be applied to the sheet in specific designs, such as a logo or text, without the use of pigments. This is referred to as “blind embossing.”

A component that attaches two pieces of the package together but allows movement of one or both pieces along its axis. For example, a lid may be hinged to a base. Hinges are constructed in a variety of methods, or they can be a separate component.

A process in which only the edges of the wrap are adhered to the base and/or cover, creating envelope folds at the corners. Loose wrapping most closely approximates a hand wrapped appearance, such as in gift wrapping.

A sheet of material used to overwrap the chipboard base and/or cover, such as paper or fabric.

Our capabilities are endless
To Create Your Perfect Package

No matter what type of product you need to package, Friend Box is here to listen to you, understand your needs and your market, and then provide the ideal packaging solution. Click below to view our gallery and learn more about our complete capabilities.